While technology has completely changed how business is run, there are still many project managers who don’t completely understand all the ins and outs of cloud computing software.
According to joint research by Emergent Research, a consulting firm, and Intuit, a financial software company, the amount of small businesses in the U.S. using cloud computing is predicted to increase to 87 percent by the year 2020. This is a significant growth rate of more than double the percentage from the current 37 percent that use this technology as of right now.
“We’re seeing efficiency gains continue, but we’re also starting to see the emergence of new capabilities,” Steve King, an Emergent Research partner, explained.
Organizing everything for your project can be overwhelming, and in today’s competitive age getting behind the times could truly reduce your overall productivity. Here are a few ways you can address your project’s productivity levels with cloud-based software:
Connecting and collaborating with customers
Through a cloud-based software system, you can address collaboration issues that once took out important chunks in your day. Driving back and forth from the office, to the work site and then to customers’ offices can truly drain the amount of time you spend with your crew on the restoration project.
“Using a tablet will help you deliver documents, insurance forms and estimates directly to the customer.”
Instead, cloud technology lets you keep everyone involved and up to date. With a more connected relationship with your customers, you can focus on addressing productivity and get the job done faster. According to a Frost and Sullivan survey, companies investing in collaboration software saw productivity rise by as much as 400 percent in 2010 because of cloud computing technology.
Using a mobile device or laptop in the field will help you deliver documents, work forms, job estimates and other important information directly to the customer so you don’t have to leave your post.
Allowing more flexibility in your project
While staying connected with all parties is critical, you also want to be flexible, as job details can change from one day to the next. Working in the cloud lets you grasp the ever-changing industry, as mitigation projects are often uncontrollable.
Also, having the ability to be flexible on the job is important for restoration contractors who handle multiple jobs. If a flood disaster hit a certain town, a contractor could be working with multiple clients for repairs. Working in the cloud will help keep each party’s information separate and organized. This will let restorers remain flexible while on top of things.
Staying on budget is an important part to your project’s productivity.
Remaining on budget
With restoration contractors, keeping your project within budget is a challenge in and of itself. Things can change and new challenges arise which can affect the jobs timeline. However, using a cloud-based software system will help you save money in the long run by addressing issues more quickly, creating happier customers and bringing more business to your company.
There are many ways that cloud technology can save you money, but for contractors, there are a lot of different factors that help you stick to a well-organized budget. Having 24/7 access to update bill of materials or scope of work documents can help you remain on budget, so additional costs don’t come later and affect your budget. Planning everything out in the beginning is the best way to stay within budget, and using a cloud-service system like DASH as a solution could help ensure success for your restoration business.
DASH software will keep you and your customers involved in the project constantly up to date with real-time information.
